Burn Injury Due to Hot Water Bottle

doi:10.4236/mps.2011.11001

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Modern Plastic Surgery, 2011, 1, 1-2

doi:10.4236/mps.2011.11001 Published Online October 2011 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/mps)

Burn Injury Due to Hot Water Bottle

Celalettin Sever1*, Yalcin Kulahci1, Fatih Uygur1, H us e yi n Kara g oz1, Yalcin Bayram2, Sinan Oksuz1,

Bilge Kagan Aysal1

1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Burn Unit, Gülhane Military Medical Academy and Medical Faculty, Haydar-

paşa Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey; 2Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Maresal Cakmak Military Hospital, Erzu-

rum, Turkey.

Email: *[email protected]

Received September 15th, 2011; revised October 18th, 2011; accepted October 24th, 2011.

ABSTRACT

Hot water bottles, generally used to comfort and relief from aches and pains. We present a case of scald burn caused by

hot water bottle. The circumstances of this injury and preventive measures are discussed in this case report.

Keywords: Perianal Burn, Car Seat, Contact Burn, Gluteal Burn

1. Introduction

The hot water bottle is fabulous to use for relief of joint

discomfort, pains, muscular tension, stress or cramps,

aches, menstrual period pain and generally for the initial

heating of cold bedsheets [1]. The therapy effect of hot

water bottle has been known since the 16th century, and

it is still used today for many alternative medicine. Alth-

ough the hot water bottle offers comfort during the symp-

tomatic treatment of disorders, this therapy method has

scald burn injury risk for patient. To our knowledge, up to

now, despite its widespread use, only one burn injury have

been reported in the literature [1-3].

2. Case Report

We would like to report a case of a 27-year-old man who

suffered second and third degree burn to his posterior

side of trunk, right thigh and right gluteal region (Figure

1). The patient told us that he has lumbar disc herniation

and he was used hot water bottle to reveal severe back

pain. However, the patient suffered second and third de-

gree burn injury as the result of tear of hot water bottle

(Figure 2). Burn areas were dressed every day. Suitable

antibiotic therapy was begun with the consultation of the

infectious disease department. The burn area was treated

conservatively within six weeks without any surgery.

3. Discussion

Back pain has always been a problem for a number of

people; most of the people suffer from this condition at

some point of their life. Some patients when they suf-

fered from aches or pains don’t want to use the painkillers

or ointments to deal with them because of the side-effects

of drugs or allergic to their ingredients. In fact, allergies

to anti-inflammatory painkillers is far more common.

Figure 1. The second and third degree burn areas due to

tearing of hot water bottle.

Figure 2. The appearance of the teared hot water bottle.

Burn Injury Due to Hot Water Bottle

Heat is one of the best way to get relief from the pain.

They may be used for aches and pain, menstrual cramps.

Hot water bottles may be molded while sitting or lying

and in any position and provide heat to the area which,

alleviates the pain. Hot water bottles have been used for

centuries. Hot water bottles are large rubber bottles

“flattened” into an oval shape with a stopper on top that

may be removed to fill them with hot water. The earliest

hot water bottles were metal containers filled with hot

coals. Modern day, hot water bottles are manufactured in

rubber or similar material. The surface temperature of the

hot water bottle is maintained at maximum 50˚, accord-

ing to the manufacturers. Severe burns may also occur

slowly if a hot water bottle leave on one part of body for

more than 15 minutes [1-3].

These burns are preventable and therefore, some basic

measures may reduce the incidence of accidental burn

injury due to heated hot water bottles.

1) The hot water bottle manufacturers have to post

warnings in their owner’s manuals of the danger of po-

tential burns. The hot water bottles should be tested to

increase their safety.

2) The hot water bottle should be examined for any

damage, such as splits, holes or leaks before using. The

hot water bottles should not be filled with boiling water,

because boiling water may cause splits or leaks and will

shorten the life of the hot water bottle.

3) The hot water bottle should not be overfilled. Three

quarters is the maximum level to fill. A hot water bottle

gives out plenty of heat as well when filled to the correct

level.

4) The hot water bottles have to wrap in a towel to

prevent the bottle being in direct contact with the skin

especially for patients with sensory deficits.

5) The hot water bottle should exchange every one or

two years because the bottles which are in good con-

dition on the outside may be damaged on the inside.

6) The hot water bottle should only use to warm the

bed. The bottle should remove before get into bed and

empty it or place it out of reach. It should not use in a

bed fitted with an electric blanket. The patients should

not lean on, roll on, press against or lie on a hot water

bottle.

We hope that this case report will succeed in raising

awareness of the dangers involved in the hot water bot-

tles.

REFERENCES

[1] O. Lapid and S. Walfisch, “Gluteal Burns as a Complica-

tion of Hot Water Bottle Treatment for Anal Fissure,”

Burns, Vol. 25, No. 6, 1999, pp. 559-560.

doi:10.1016/S0305-4179(99)00030-3

[2] R. M. Jose, R. Vidyadharan, D. K. Roy, et al., “Hot Wa-

ter Bottles and Diabetic Patients—A Cautionary Tale,”

The British Journal of General Practice, Vol. 55, 2005,

pp. 222-223

[3] A. Whittam, A. Wilson and J. E. Greenwood, “Burn Inju-

ries Caused by Hot Water Bottles Audit and Loop Clo-

sure,” Eplasty, Vol. 10, 2010, p. e12.